Chenoa eyes future business opportunities

Thursday

Nov 14, 2013 at 11:16 AM

Erich Murphy

Mayor Don Corrie pointed out that the city could be in for increased business opportunities once the project at Pickett Street is completed.Corrie told the council at its meeting Tuesday night that getting the water lines and sewer work done will allow for interested parties to purchase property south of U.S. 24 between the Union Pacific tracks and Old Route 66.“We got phone calls from people wanting to build over there,” Corrie said. “They want easier access and closer access to city water and city sewer.”Zach Lopeman, a Chenoa resident and business owner, asked the mayor of the landowner who had been hesitant to sell earlier was willing to do so at this time. Corrie intimated that the landowner was ready to sell and that a company was already interested in making the purchase.Commissioner Don Schultheis explained the engineers estimated cost of the work would be in the $49,000 range. He added that it would extend east and west of the Pickett Street intersection.Schultheis also pointed out that he had a conversation with a city employee and that it was indicated the city could a bulk of the work. The cost, according to Schultheis, would be approximately $8,750, compared to the $49,280 estimated cost by the engineer.Added to the line already slated to go east west is the idea of putting a line in heading south. Schultheis said the engineers told him that it could run 1,000 feet, which would allow for a street to be put in, as well.The council approved by a 4-1 vote the pay increase for the four full-time police officers. The city and the union representing the officers had been in negotiations for a large part of the year.The increase is 4.98 percent and retroactive to the beginning of the fiscal year.Corrie gave the “nay” vote because he felt the increase was too much for one officer, though he did not publicly name that person. He felt that the regular 3 percent given to city employees not with the police department was sufficient.City Attorney Al Freehill discussed the allowance of video gaming at convenience stores. He said this could involve a new class of liquor license.According to Freehill, state statutes indicate that alcohol must be served in order to have gaming machines. Convenience stores only sell package liquor, so this would be allowing them to serve drinks, like at a tavern.He also asked about putting a limit on drinks allowed because of the state law.Freehill pointed out the measures a business must take in order to insure underage patrons to the store are not allowed in the specific gaming area.